Geranium plant named ‘FN Deep Lilac’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘FN Deep Lilac’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and full plant habit; freely flowering habit; pink and dark purple bi-colored flowers; and no requirement for vernalization.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Pelargonium×domesticum cultivar FN Deep Lilac.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant, commercially known as Regal Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium×domesticum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘FN Deep Lilac’.

The new Regal Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Foxley, Norfolk, United Kingdom. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new Regal Geranium cultivars with compact growth habit, numerous flowers, and interesting flower and foliage colors that do not require vernalization for flowering.

The new Regal Geranium originated from a self-pollination made by the Inventor in May, 1997 of a proprietary Pelargonium×domesticum selection identified as BOZAGR-12, not patented. The cultivar FN Deep Lilac was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny from this self-pollination in a controlled environment in Foxley, Norfolk, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Foxley, Norfolk, United Kingdom, since January, 1998 has shown that the unique features of this new Regal Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘FN Deep Lilac’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘FN Deep Lilac’ as a new and distinct Regal Geranium cultivar:

1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded growth habit.

2. Freely branching habit; dense and full plant habit.

3. Freely flowering habit.

4. Pink and dark purple bi-colored flowers.

5. No requirement for vernalization.

Plants of the new Regal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Regal Geranium are more freely flowering than plants of the selection BOZAGR-12.

2. Plants of the new Regal Geranium have a more distinct flower coloration pattern than plants of the selection BOZAGR-12.

The new Regal Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, Burghi, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Foxley, Norfolk, United Kingdom, plants of the new Regal Geranium differed from plants of the cultivar Burghi in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Regal Geranium were more freely branching than plants of the cultivar Burghi.

2. Plants of the new Regal Geranium had smaller flowers than plants of the cultivar Burghi.

3. Plants of the new Regal Geranium and the cultivar Burghi differed in flower coloration.

4. Plants of the new Regal Geranium did not require vernalization for flowering whereas plants of the cultivar Burghi required vernalization for flowering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Regal Geranium.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘FN Deep Lilac’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flower bud, the lower surface of a typical open flower, a typical flowering umbel, the upper surface of a typical leaf, and the lower surface of a typical leaf.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar FN Deep Lilac has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Lompoc, Calif., under commercial practice in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse during the winter and spring with day temperatures ranging from 55 to 75° F., night temperatures ranging from 50 to 65° F. and light levels ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and description were about 22 weeks from planting rooted cuttings and were grown in gallon containers. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×domesticum cultivar FN Deep Lilac.

Parentage: Self-pollination of a proprietary Pelargonium×domesticum selection identified as BOZAGR-12, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 7 days at 70° F.

Time to develop roots.—About 21 days at 70° F.

Root description.—Fine, freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Upright and outwardly spreading; mounded growth habit. Appropriate for gallon containers.

Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and freely branching with about 14 lateral branches per plant; dense and full plant habit. Pinching is typically not required.

Plant height (to top of foliage).—About 28 cm.

Plant height (to top of flowering umbels).—About 36 cm.

Plant width.—About 56 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 25 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144B.

Foliage description.—

Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering, opposite, simple. Length: About 6.5 cm. Width: About 10 cm. Shape: Roughly hemispherical, three-lobed. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Serrate; undulate. Venation: Palmate. Texture, upper surface: Slightly pubescent. Texture, lower surface: Glabrous. Color: Young foliage, upper and lower surfaces: 144A. Mature foliage, upper surface: 146A. Mature foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper surface: 146B. Venation, lower surface: 147C. Petiole: Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146A.

Flower description:

Flower arrangement and type.—Single rounded flowers arranged in hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed above and beyond the foliage. At full flowering, usually about 38 open and developing umbels per plant. Umbels persistent. Flowers not fragrant.

Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; vernalization is not required for flowering. In the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall. Plants start flowering about 20 weeks after planting.

Flower longevity.—Flowers last about 5 to 7 days on the plant.

Umbels/flowers.—Height: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 9.5 cm. Number of flowers per umbel: About eight. Flower diameter: About 4.75 cm. Flower depth (height): About 3 cm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Elongated ovoid. Color: 72B.

Petals.—Quantity: About five per flower arranged in a single whorl. Length, upper two petals: About 4 cm. Length, lower three petals: About 3.5 cm. Width, upper two petals: About 3 cm. Width, lower three petals: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: 77B. When opening, lower surface: 77C to 77D. Fully opened, upper surface, upper two petals: Center, 59A; surrounded by 72B; surrounded by 77B extending to the margin; at base, 77A. Fully opened, upper surface, lower three petals: 77C; at base, 77A. Fully opened, lower surface, upper two petals: Center, 71B; surrounded by 75A extending to the margin; at base, 75D. Fully opened, lower surface, lower three petals: 75A to 75B; at base, 75D.

Sepals.—Quantity: Five per flower arranged in a single whorl. Length, upper and lower sepals: About 2 cm. Width, upper two sepals: About 7 mm. Width, lower three sepals: About 5 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color, upper surface: 144C. Color, lower surface: 144B.

Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Angle: About 45° from lateral branch. Strength: Strong. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: 144B.

Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle: About 30° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: 144B.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Anther quantity: Six per flower. Anther shape: Elongated oblong. Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm. Anther color: 78A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 23A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Stigma shape: Five-parted, star-shaped. Stigma color: 71A. Style length: About 1.7 cm. Style color: 71C. Ovary color: 144B.

Seed/fruit.—None observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to Regal Geraniums has not been observed. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘FN Deep Lilac’, as herein illustrated and described. 